By Lauren WhitneyDENVER (CBS4) – After setting a record low with -7° in Denver Wednesday morning, high temperatures climbed into the low 20s during the afternoon.

Skies will stay dry in Denver on Wednesday night, but we will see more mountain snow tonight through Thursday. Most of the snow will be found in the southern mountains including the San Juan’s and the Sangre de Cristo’s. The central high country including the mountains of Summit County have the best chance for snow Wednesday night into Thursday morning when a few inches of accumulation is likely.

We have a few Winter Weather Advisories and a Winter Storm Warning for southwestern Colorado through Thursday evening. Some areas could see 5 to 1o inches of snow in that area.

Denver may see some light snow later in the afternoon, but we aren’t expecting much accumulation. We do stay cold, though. Highs will stay below freezing once again.

We’ll still be cool on Friday, but we will get above freezing! There is still a slight chance for a little snow on Friday evening, but we’ll see more sunshine on Saturday. Temperatures will be warmer this weekend. We’ll finally get back to the 40s! It will seem like a heat wave!

Watch meteorologist Lauren Whitney on CBS4 News on weekday evenings at 5, 6, 6:30 p.m. Check out her bio, connect with her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @LaurenCBS4.

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/21/latest-forecast-not-as-frigid-but-still-cold/feed/0Speed, Slick Pavement Blamed For Collision That Killed 4http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/21/collision-4-dead-interstate-colorado-nebraska/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/21/collision-4-dead-interstate-colorado-nebraska/#respondWed, 21 Feb 2018 17:08:26 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1634665Authorities blame speed and a slippery pavement for a collision between a pickup truck and a semi that killed four Coloradans in Nebraska.]]>

UTICA, Neb. (AP/CBS4) — Authorities blame speed and a slippery pavement for a collision between a pickup truck and a semitrailer that killed four Coloradans on Interstate 80 in eastern Nebraska.

(credit: CBS)

The crash was reported at approximately 7:15 a.m. Tuesday between the Waco and Utica exits, hampering westbound traffic.

Lt. Paul Vrbka with the York County Sheriff’s Department says the three males and one female killed were from Colorado. Their names aren’t being released until relatives have been notified of the deaths.

Vrbka says the eastbound pickup went out of control and crossed the median into the westbound lanes, striking the semitrailer and killing its four occupants. The big rig driver wasn’t injured.

(credit: CBS)

Icy pavement played havoc with Tuesday’s morning commute in many parts of eastern Nebraska.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (CBS4) – At kickoff, around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said it was three degrees in Commerce City.

(credit: Colorado Rapids)

The Colorado Rapids and Toronto still played soccer.

Fans file in for a Colorado Rapids game on a bitter cold night.(credit: CBS)

“This game is one of those you’ll talk about for years, regardless of the result we’ll talk about for years,” said Dave Wegner from Centennial 38 Supporters Group said. “I think the high temperature is going to be John Elway tonight. So I think we’re looking at seven.”

(credit: CBS)

The Major League Soccer season doesn’t start until late March, but Toronto and the Rapids have a two-game series in the CONCOCAF Champions League. Tuesday’s game is the coldest ever played between two MLS teams.

At a tailgate, hours before the match kicked off, one brave soul was wearing shorts and sandals. Others huddled around fires trying to stay warm.

(credit: CBS)

“All things aside, this is a community. We care about each other. We take care of each other. Nobody is going to get hurt tonight,” said Wegner.

Toronto beat the Rapids, 2-0. The Rapids will play the second leg in Toronto in one week. The forecast low for Toronto is 32 degrees.

Jeff Todd joined the CBS4 team in 2011 covering the Western Slope in the Mountain Newsroom. Since 2015 he’s been working across the Front Range in the Denver Headquarters. Follow him on Twitter @CBS4Jeff.

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/20/soccer-coldest-mls-game-ever/feed/0Denver To Record Coldest Feb. 20 High In Recorded Historyhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/20/record-cold-high-in-denver/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/20/record-cold-high-in-denver/#respondTue, 20 Feb 2018 23:58:11 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1634447The previous record cold high was 16 degrees set in 1911.]]>

DENVER (CBS4) – Sitting at a mile above sea level and in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, Denver is known for having an extreme climate. But the most recent temperature swing ranked as one of the biggest ever observed.

(credit: CBS)

According to the National Weather Service in Boulder, after a high of 69°F at 2:27 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 18) Denver’s official low hit -3°F just over 40 hours later at 6:45 a.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 20).

(credit: CBS)

The 72 degree drop tied for the 8th biggest swing ever noted in a period of two days or less. It also landed in the top 20 biggest temperature swing events for Denver since records began in 1872.

Remember when it was close to 70 yesterday? Major temperature difference from Sunday. There isn't even a color contour to depict this massive change! Stay warm! #cowxpic.twitter.com/rVIN5gyjYK

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/20/big-temp-swing-in-denver/feed/16Latest Colorado Snow Totals From Monday’s Stormhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/20/colorado-snow-totals/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/20/colorado-snow-totals/#respondTue, 20 Feb 2018 19:30:06 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1634288If your city or town is not listed it's because an official snow total was not received.]]>

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/20/colorado-snow-totals/feed/0Bus Techs Prepare Frozen School Buses For Student Pick-Uphttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/20/school-buses-boulder/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/20/school-buses-boulder/#respondTue, 20 Feb 2018 18:52:50 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1634286No school for the President's Day holiday on Monday combined with several inches of snow and freezing temperatures on Tuesday morning made for some tough work for school bus technicians. ]]>

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4)– No school for the President’s Day holiday on Monday combined with several inches of snow and freezing temperatures on Tuesday morning made for some tough work for school bus technicians.

Some schools in the Denver metro area were on a delayed start Tuesday because of the Winter driving conditions.

(credit: CBS)

School bus technicians with the Boulder Valley School District started their day before dawn, shoveling drifts of snow that had piled up around the buses. They also heated up the engines after the three-day weekend of being idle.

A handful of technicians prepped 130 buses before the drivers arrived. Then they stuck around for repairs in case any of the buses needed extra attention.

(credit: CBS)

Driving in snowy conditions can be dangerous fore even the most experienced driver, but Boulder Valley wants to assure parents their children are safe.

“We start early in the year in October changing our fuel mixture to a winter blend. We also changed our oil from a 15-30 to a 10-30 to make it easier to start. Then preparation every morning to make sure things are the way they should be and are ready to go,” said Boulder Valley School District bus technician Les Hornbaker.

(credit: CBS)

“The drivers have been trained to drive in these conditions and they’re going to take it slowly. We want to make sure people bundle up their kids and if they do have young drivers they consider alternate transportation,” said Boulder Valley School District spokesman Randy Barber.

(credit: CBS)

When it comes to snowy days, parents can help bus drivers by having their children ready to hop on the bus as soon as it pulls up. That would help the drivers stay on schedule so that children aren’t waiting a long time for the bus to arrive.

DENVER (CBS4)– Drivers shared the road with snow plows for the Monday morning commute after snow fell overnight. That snow created some slick conditions along the Front Range.

Snow plow crews from Denver Public Works deployed around 4:30 a.m. Monday when the snow started to accumulate. A total of 70 plows are patrolling the streets.

(credit: CBS)

Snow plow drivers continued to clear streets and dropped deicer on the streets as needed.

(credit: CBS)

Residential snow plows may be deployed once heavy snow falls in the Denver metro area. The smaller plows can help clear smaller, side streets.

(credit: CBS)

• Residential plows do not carry de-icing materials.
• The residential plows shave off the top few inches of snow pack and will not expose bare pavement.
• When deployed, the residential plows take one pass down the center of every side street to keep streets passable.

(credit: CBS)

Now there’s a way to keep track of where the Colorado Department of Transportation has its plows. CDOT also has crews out in full force during the snowfall.

BENNETT, Colo. (CBS4) – Firefighters from multiple agencies including South Metro Fire Rescue responded to a wildland fire on Maplewood Drive south of Bennett on Sunday afternoon.

Officials say 75-100 acres were scorched. Firefighters were able to get control of it in about 45 minutes.

Firefighters fight blaze south of Bennett. (credit: CBS)

Crews were seen spraying water on a blackened earth.

No one was reportedly hurt, and no buildings were threatened.

Crews will stay on scene until hotspots are put out completely. They say that should be by 7 p.m.

The cause of that fire is under investigation.

Further south, Elizabeth Fire responded to a small brush fire on Sunday as well.

Downed power pole that caused a small brush fire in Elizabeth. (credit: CBS)

They say a van hit and knocked over a power pole which caused a small brush fire. Crews quickly extinguished the fire.

IREA responded, but electricity may be out for several hours.

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/18/firefighters-respond-wildland-fire/feed/0Some Ski Resorts Forced To Close Some Lifts Due To Strong Wind Gustshttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/18/ski-resorts-closed-winds/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/18/ski-resorts-closed-winds/#respondSun, 18 Feb 2018 20:46:33 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1633865Strong wind gusts forced ski resorts in the high country to close some lifts Sunday as a major winter storm blows into the state.]]>

DENVER (CBS4) – When you hear the acronym BOLO (be on the lookout) it’s usually associated with police talk, but for those living in the foothills near Boulder, today’s BOLO is about a weather balloon.

(credit: NWS Grand Junction)

Strong jet stream winds as high as 190 mph carried a weather balloon from Grand Junction to the Front Range Wednesday evening. The balloon popped somewhere over Eldora in the foothills of Boulder County and could be anywhere between there and west Boulder.

(credit: NWS Grand Junction)

The picture above is similar to what would have floated down to the ground. It’s called a radiosonde which is essentially a small box with weather instruments inside. It’d likely have a small orange parachute attached to it.

If found it can be returned via U.S. Mail to the National Weather Service using the instructions found here.

This PM's weather balloon ended up popping over 160 miles ENE of Grand Junction…putting it right around Eldora on the Front Range. Peak wind of ~190 mph! As the balloon drifts to the surface it could end up west of Boulder. Be on the lookout for us, @NWSBoulder! : NWS pic.twitter.com/RzuMyO9vSa

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/15/avalanche-warning-issued/feed/0Strong Chinook Winds Blast The Rockieshttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/14/strong-chinook-winds-blast-the-rockies/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/14/strong-chinook-winds-blast-the-rockies/#respondWed, 14 Feb 2018 22:00:08 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1632964Strong winds whipped the Colorado Rockies with incredibly strong gusts during the day Wednesday. Some of the gusts over some of the mountains and high foothills blasted up over hurricane force. ]]>

DENVER (CBS4) – Strong winds whipped the Colorado Rockies with incredibly strong gusts during the day Wednesday. Some of the gusts over some of the mountains and high foothills blasted up over hurricane force. Such was the case on Berthoud Pass where winds shot up to 81 mph! Hurricane force winds are 74 mph and higher.

The winds were damaging over northern Colorado into southern Wyoming. CDOT was forced to close I-25 near the Wyoming border for high profile vehicles. The gusts were strong enough to blow over a semi on I-25 in northern Colorado.

A semi blown over on I-25 (credit: Colorado State Patrol)

Cars and low profile commercial trucks were able to get through but, many of the higher profile trucks had to wait several hours since the closing of the highway around 9:15 am on Wednesday morning.

Several different neighborhoods in and around Larimer and Weld Counties including Fort Collins and Greeley experienced power outages because of Wednesday’s strong, gusty winds. With the Poudre Valley REA working hard to get power back up in many different areas of the Poudre Valley area of northern Colorado.

1,700 power outages in Fort Collins and Carter Lake. Crews are on site at both locations, working to repair power lines that have been damaged in the wind. We anticipate having power restored within the next couple of hours.

This danger is highest in the back country of the Front Range and Vail-Summit avalanche zones.

(credit: CBS)

Experts say the problem is due to a dry beginning of winter, which created a thin, weak snowpack.

A recent series of small storms have added to the snowpack and now there’s enough snow to create Deep Persistent Slab avalanches, which can be hundreds of feet wide.

A view of the slide on Berthoud Pass from Drone4 (credit: CBS)

The CAIC says the only way to stay safe from this type of avalanche is to avoid being on, or under, slopes of 30° or more where this problem exists.

According to the CAIC, the last time conditions created widespread large avalanches was during the winter of 2013-14 when 8 people died, and the winter of 2012-13, when 11 people were killed in Colorado.

Watch the video below for more valuable information about Deep Persistent Slab avalanches.

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/13/large-dangerous-avalanches-possible/feed/0Heavy Snow Prompts Avalanche Warning For Southern San Juanshttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/13/avalanche-warning-for-southern-san-juans/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/13/avalanche-warning-for-southern-san-juans/#respondTue, 13 Feb 2018 21:40:00 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1632602Experts say to avoid being on or under any slope that is 30 degree or higher.]]>

OURAY, Colo. (CBS4)– Crews with the Colorado Department of Transportation blasted snow from Red Mountain Pass over the weekend.

(credit: CDOT)

The heavy snow was removed during avalanche mitigation.

Workers set off a slide that measured about 300 feet wide south of Ouray.

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/12/red-mountain-pass-ouray-avalanche/feed/0Camel Strides Through Town In Steamboat’s Winter Celebrationhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/12/steamboat-springs-winter-carnival/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/12/steamboat-springs-winter-carnival/#respondMon, 12 Feb 2018 13:41:50 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1632161The 105th edition of Winter Carnival in Steamboat Springs is in the books and thousands are taking home lots of good memories.]]>

DENVER (CBS4) – Saturday’s snow caused rough rides, wrecks and road closures on interstates and side streets throughout the Denver metro area and beyond.

(credit: CBS)

The Colorado Department of Transportation warned that roadways could become even more icy overnight as temperatures drop.

“It’s pretty slick,” said one driver in Castle Rock. “You could feel the snow kick up behind your tires.”

(credit: CBS)

Slick stretches along Interstate 25 were slippery enough to cause a car to spin out Saturday evening near the Ridgegate Parkway exit in Lone Tree.

Two drivers who witnessed the wreck stopped to help. One of them was Ron Sparks, coming home from a sport activity.

(credit: CBS)

“We came across this young lady who looks like she had maybe hit the median and spun around and was sitting sideways in the #2 lane,” Sparks said. “She was pretty shaken up.”

Farther south in Castle Rock, some residents, like Reed Edwards, opted to stay inside until well after the snowfall came to a stop.

“We just stayed inside and waited for the roads to clear up a little bit,” Edwards told CBS4’s Melissa Garcia.

(credit: CBS)

The nasty road conditions, however, did not keep everyone inside.

After working a full shift that left inches of snow piled up on her car, Pam Schnakenberg said that the barber shop where she works stayed busy all day long. She planned to be extra careful driving home.

Pam Schnakenberg (credit: CBS)

“I grew up in Colorado so I can do it,” Schnakenberg said. “It’s the other (drivers) that are scary.”

In Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, snowfall built up on Lincoln Street. Lincoln near 13th Avenue was the site of just one of many fender benders where police and emergency crews responded to weather-related wrecks.

(credit: CBS)

A driver heading west on 13th Avenue turning onto Lincoln Street was unable to stop before plowing into a passenger-packed city bus.

Farther West near Lookout Mountain, Interstate 70 came to a halt earlier in the afternoon when a jackknifed semi sprawled across all three lanes of traffic.

Despite the blistering cold, the white weekend blanket leaves some Coloradans hoping for more substantial February flurries.

“I want to see 4 feet (or) 5 feet,” said Schnakenberg. “That’s how Colorado used to be.”

DENVER (CBS4) – We received a great question this morning from CBS4 viewer Fletcher.

He writes…

“It is 13 degrees outside and the humidity is 88%. Why isn’t it snowing? The atmosphere is pretty well saturated but why isn’t the moisture freezing and falling?”

Relative humidity is one of the most misunderstood weather variables out there. It has one meaning, and one meaning only. It tells us how close the air is to being saturated. That’s it!

In meteorology the word saturation doesn’t mean wet, as in rain or snow, it means “full” … as in the air is holding all of the water vapor that it can for the current air temperature and pressure.

A relative humidity of 88% just means that the air can hold 12% more water vapor before it’s full, or saturated.

Relative humidity can literally change by the minute. That’s because it’s directly related to air temperature. It can also change if the amount of water vapor in the air changes. We measure the actual water vapor in the air by using the dew point temperature.

To get rain or snow, you need something else happening in the atmosphere. Specifically, inside the cloud.

It’s called the Bergeron process and it plays a role in helping to create snow that will eventually fall out of the cloud, and hopefully, reach the ground below.

If this topic has caught your interest then here’s a little more information about the air’s ability to hold water, which is directly connected to temperature.

For every one degree you warm, the “tank” to hold water vapor gets bigger and bigger. For every degree you cool it gets gets smaller and smaller. It’s an exponential relationship.

Because of this, 13 degree air is extremely dry, meaning there isn’t a lot of water available for snow, despite the fact that in Fletcher’s case, the air is almost saturated.

While high relative humidity can be helpful to predict extensive coverage of low clouds, and things like fog, dew or frost, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to receive rain or snow.

DENVER (CBS4) – A little cold weather never stops Coloradans from biking to work. On Friday, more people are trading their cars for bicycles for the 6th annual Winter Bike to Work Day.

(credit: CBS)

Aurora is one of many cities in the Denver metro area participating in this annual event. Residents are encouraged to hop on a bike and head to work, despite the cold weather. Event organizers say commuting by bike in the winter not only saves money, but also keeps people fit while reducing traffic congestion.

“The winter event is important because in Colorado people are active all year long,” said Brenden Paradies, Planner with City of Aurora. “It’s important to understand there are other options and other ways to get to work.”

(credit: CBS)

In Aurora there are numerous events, breakfast stations and prizes:

-Aurora Metro Center Station : 630- 8:30 a.m., Stop by for breakfast and information from the city of
Aurora about local bike-share programs

-Stanley Marketplace, Logan House Pit Stop: 7- 9a.m., 10% all coffee

-Cheluna Pit Stop, 4 to 6 p.m, Drink specials, and LimeBike also will be available to talk about bike share

-Treads Bicycle Outfitters: 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m., Free cup of coffee, and Ofo will be able to talk
about bike share

– Peak to Peak Tap & Brew:1:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Stop in to refuel for the ride home, mention your participation in Winter Bike to Work Day and get 10 percent off your tab, including brews and food. From 6 to 8 p.m., enjoy a performance by the national indie-folk acoustic duo Witherward, talk with Ofo about bike share.

(credit: CBS)

“Winter Bike to Work Day” is an international event that is anticipating more than 13,000 participants.

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/09/cyclists-winter-bike-work-day/feed/0Latest La Niña Outlook Not The Best For Colorado Snowpackhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/08/la-nina-outlook-for-colorado/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/08/la-nina-outlook-for-colorado/#respondThu, 08 Feb 2018 22:46:18 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1631433A typical La Niña winter weather pattern keeps most of the state warm and dry with the exception of areas near the Wyoming state line. ]]>

EAGLE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) – The Eagle County coroner identified a 24-year-old man who died while backcountry skiing.

Officials say the body of Samuel Failla of New Jersey was recovered from East Vail on Tuesday.

Samuel Failla (credit: GoFundMe)

He was reported missing at 9:30 a.m. by a friend who was rescued on Monday night after calling 911.

Officials say the rescued victim assumed Failla made it out on his own and didn’t tell first responders they were in the backcountry together.

The cause of death has not been released.

If you have any information regarding this incident, please call the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 328-8500 or Eagle County Crime Stoppers at 970-328-7007, 1-800-972-TIPS, submit your tip online at www.tipsubmit.com.

You can text a tip from your cell phone by texting STOPCRIME plus your message to CRIMES (274637). If your tip leads to the arrest and indictment of any suspect involved, you could earn up to a $1,000 reward from the Crime Stoppers.

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/06/body-backcountry-skier-recovered/feed/0Dog Owner Talks About Dog’s Rescue From Backcountryhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/06/dog-owner-talks-about-dogs-rescue-from-backcountry/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/06/dog-owner-talks-about-dogs-rescue-from-backcountry/#commentsWed, 07 Feb 2018 03:29:34 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1630858A dog is back home in Denver after being rescued on Berthoud Pass.]]>

GRAND COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) – A dog is back home in Denver after being rescued on Berthoud Pass.

Grand County crews found Yoshi on Saturday night, but couldn’t get to him because of dangerous avalanche conditions.

Yoshi was tagging along with Fox on Saturday when the dog became separated from the skier.

CBS4’s Matt Kroschel interviews Brandon Fox.(credit: CBS)

“The worst part is the whole time he’s above the bottom of the cliff section about 120 feet just staring at us. We’re looking at him like ‘We can’t get you man. I’m sorry,'” said Fox.

(credit: Grand County Search & Rescue)

On Sunday morning, Grand County personnel met Fox at Berthoud Pass where crews discussed all the options to saving the dog. The animal was trapped in an area where snowmobiling wasn’t possible because of rocky cliffs.

“Avalanche prone – after about three hours the leader of the search and rescue team decide it’s too dangerous to get him,” said Fox. “So, at that point in time it was almost like a death sentence.”

“We were trying everything and everyone said it was too dangerous,” said Richard Jones with Grand County Search & Rescue.

Brandon Fox and his dog,Yoshi. (credit: CBS)

The crews ran into a pair of experienced technical climbers who had all their gear and they offered to ascend the cliff bands. They climbed from the bottom, got to the dog and brought him down.

“They came out of nowhere. They barely even took a minute. They looked at the face. They calculated a few routes in their mind, and they said ‘Okay, we’re going to get our stuff.’ They didn’t even think twice,” Fox said.

After several tense hours, they reached Yoshi and reunited him with a very grateful owner.

“It was amazing. Without them, he would still be there,” Fox said.

This was the same location where a snowboarder and a dog were killed in an avalanche eight years ago.

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/06/dog-owner-talks-about-dogs-rescue-from-backcountry/feed/1Double-Digit Snow Totals Hit Several Colorado Ski Areashttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/06/double-digit-snow-totals-hit-several-colorado-ski-areas/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/06/double-digit-snow-totals-hit-several-colorado-ski-areas/#respondTue, 06 Feb 2018 22:17:33 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1630740It was one of the largest and most widespread snow events so far this season.]]>

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/05/powderhorn-skiing-snow/feed/0Semi Crashes As Strong Winds Blow Into The Mountainshttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/05/semi-jackknifes-windy-conditions/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/05/semi-jackknifes-windy-conditions/#respondMon, 05 Feb 2018 15:30:44 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1630257Snowy conditions are expected in Colorado's high country on Monday, and the day started out with strong winds there that caused some problems.]]>

GEORGETOWN, Colo. (CBS4) – Snowy conditions are expected in Colorado’s high country on Monday, and the day started out with strong winds there that caused some problems.

The strong winds were likely a factor in the crash of a truck on Interstate 70 near Georgetown sometime before 6:30 a.m. The semi jackknifed in the westbound lanes, and that led to an extended highway closure.

(credit: CDOT)

By 8 a.m. the accident was cleared up and traffic was moving smoothly again.

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/05/semi-jackknifes-windy-conditions/feed/0Ice Castles Bringing In More Visitors Than Expected For Some Businesseshttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/04/ice-castles-dillon-business/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/02/04/ice-castles-dillon-business/#respondMon, 05 Feb 2018 00:07:47 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1630071Normally the small town on the banks of the Dillon Reservoir would be quiet on a Sunday evening, but this winter season you can’t find a parking spot downtown.]]>

DENVER (CBS4) – So far the winter of 2017/18 has been the winter of freezing rain and drizzle. This time around we are looking at another round of freezing drizzle along the Front Range and Eastern Plains Thursday morning.

Several of our storms this season have included either freezing rain or freezing drizzle along with snow. Making driving and even walking tough with the slick roads and sidewalks. For Denver and the Front Range freezing rain is extremely rare and freezing drizzle happens a little more often but, can also be put in the rare column.

Part of that rarity is our elevation and proximity to the mountains. Freezing rain and freezing drizzle happens quite frequently during the winter months in the southern and eastern parts of the nation. Where many storms typically, have a mixture of warm and cold air. In Colorado most of our winter storms tend to be cold at altitude and on the ground. But, occasionally, the temperature profile occurs that helps support the freezing moisture scenario.

Freezing drizzle coats a windshield in Denver during an unusual freezing drizzle event in January 2015. (credit: Mark Neitro)

There are several different ways for both of these weather phenomenons to take place. The typical way is when you have warmer air aloft and much colder air near the ground. Ice falling from clouds melts as it falls through the warmer air layer several hundred feet above ground and then freezes on contact with the ground or other surfaces if the temperature is 32°F. The same with rain falling through the 32°F near the ground would freeze on contact.

Trucks and cars try to get around a Denver Public Schools bus that got stuck trying to get up a hill on Yale Ave near Monaco St. pkwy. (credit: Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

In Denver and the Front Range there is a more common set up to freezing drizzle. Because the temperature profile is quite colder in most storms than those in the south or east. In order for liquid in clouds to freeze it has to come in contact with something in order to begin the freezing process. Typically what is called “ice nuclei”. This can even happen with dust in the atmosphere. The ideal temperature for this to happen is 14°F. Without this the water can stay a liquid even though the air temperature is below 32°F. This is called “super-cooled water.”

If the water droplets are small enough, such as the size of drizzle drops, they can stay liquid until they hit the ground at which point they freeze in contact. This is why in Colorado we have more instances of freezing drizzle than freezing rain.

Meteorologist Dave Aguilera is a Colorado native and has been forecasting weather in the Rocky Mountain region for over 25 years! Connect with Dave on Facebook and on Twitter @DaveAgCBS.

Early risers gathered with telescopes, binoculars and breakfast at the Bluff Lake Nature Center — where the glow of the city lights is at a minimum — to see the Super Blue Blood Moon.

“It’s a pretty once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it’s so great that Bluff Lake put this on,” said Jenna Van Wyke. “Really cool!”

Why that name? It’s a combination of “Supermoon” (when the Moon is full at it’s closest distance to Earth, making it appear bigger and brighter), “Blue Moon” (when a calendar month has a Full Moon twice) and “Blood Moon” (a name given for the reddish color seen during a total lunar eclipse).

All three happened at once Wednesday morning, for the first time in the country since before Colorado became a state (the last time was 1866).

(credit: CBS)

A very thin layer of clouds partially obscured the show in the night sky, but it wasn’t enough to destroy the experience. The lunar eclipse started at approximately 5:50 a.m. and moon viewing was a must until daybreak when the moon set over the mountains.

“I went to see the total eclipse on the (August) 21st and this is kind of the bookend,” said Glen Dumond. “I wanted to see how it all closes. It’s pretty cool.”

The moon wasn’t actually be blue, but it appeared to be red. That’s because of dust in the atmosphere as the moon passes in the earth’s shadow.

“The sunlight is still filtering through the earth’s atmosphere, and so there’s this ring of red that’s falling on the moon from all the sunsets and all the sunrises on the earth,” said Dr. Ka Chun Yu of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, who was up early at the nature center.

(credit: CBS)

Despite the cold temperatures, Denverites were cheery with coffee, cameras and lawn chairs at the center.

“Here in Stapleton at this spot at the top of the bluff you have a 360 nearly unobstructed view of the entire area,” said David Mallery, the executive director of the nature center.

Samantha Sands, an educator at the museum, told CBS4 on Tuesday the trifecta treat has an effect on the moon. It spends a long time in the earth’s shadow, so it cools dramatically.

“Scientists are actually going to be looking through telescopes and using the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is a satellite that goes around the moon, to kind of watch and see what happens to the moon during that cooling period,” she said.

]]>http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/01/31/clouds-denver-super-blue-blood-moon/feed/0Millions Are In For A Celestial Trifecta Early Wednesday Morninghttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/01/30/celestial-trifecta-wednesday-morning/
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/01/30/celestial-trifecta-wednesday-morning/#respondWed, 31 Jan 2018 04:49:02 +0000Weather Blog – CBS Denverhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/?p=1628882Colorado will get a front row seat to a rare celestial trifecta early Wednesday morning – and hundreds of people are already signed up to share in the experience at Bluff Lake Nature Center in Denver.]]>

DENVER (CBS4) – Colorado will get a front row seat to a rare celestial trifecta early Wednesday morning – and hundreds of people are already signed up to share in the experience at Bluff Lake Nature Center in Denver.

(credit: CBS)

“This is one of the best places in the world to see it anyway,” David Mallery, Director of Bluff Lake Nature Center, said. “We’re going to have a great crowd and a great time.”

(credit: CBS)

Away from the city lights, Bluff Lake may have one of the best views of the Super Blue Blood Moon. During the cosmic combo, the moon will appear bigger and brighter – that’s what makes it ‘super.’

It’s also called a blue moon because it’s the second full moon of a calendar month. The last full moon was on January 1, 2018 – which was also a super moon.

(credit: CBS)

Now the moon won’t actually be blue, but it will appear red. That’s because of dust in the atmosphere as the moon passes in the earth’s shadow, creating a blood moon.

(credit: NASA)

“The lunar eclipse will start at about 5:50 in the morning and go until about 7 o’clock,” Samantha Sands, an educator at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, explained. (Those times are Mountain Time, by the way!) “Folks on the east coast aren’t going to get to see the total eclipse like we will here.”

Sands also explained the trifecta treat does have an effect on the moon. It spends a long time in the earth’s shadow that the moon cools dramatically.

(credit: CBS)

“Scientists are actually going to be looking through telescopes and using the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is a satellite that goes around the moon, to kind of watch and see what happens to the moon during that cooling period,” she said.

No special equipment is needed to see the rare lunar lineup – just wake up early, get outside, and look up!

Kelly Werthmann joined the CBS4 team as the morning reporter in 2012. After serving as weekend morning anchor, Kelly is now Covering Colorado First for CBS4 News at 10. Connect with Kelly on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @KellyCBS4.